1
as in has a fit
to become very angry
she blew up at everybody after a very long and very bad day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in explodes
to break open or into pieces usually because of internal pressure
the building blew up because of a gas leak
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in shatters
to cause to break open or into pieces by or as if by an explosive
blew up the biggest rocks and then cleared them away
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in cracks up
to praise or publicize lavishly and often excessively
the advertisement blows the new soda up to the point where I half expected to be transported to a higher level of consciousness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of blows up
Walter recommends that budding creators parse through their analytics when a video blows up—and warns not to pop the champagne too fast.
—
Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 11 May 2026
As one pipe blows up under their feet, two mercs go motionless and begin to drift away into the void.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Think about movements that happen when a person blows up a balloon.
—Matt Parrott, Arkansas Online, 26 Apr. 2026
Hunter consistently blows up running plays, ripping right through the interior of college offensive lines.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2026
For example, his steady job working in a bookstore blows up when it is set on fire and destroyed by those bullies ruling the neighborhood.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 23 Mar. 2026
Tommy plants the warehouse bomb that blows up the fake British currency.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026
The lead blows up, the other team’s fans laugh, roll closing credits.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 16 Mar. 2026
This, if possible, blows up in her face even more spectacularly than the brunch fiasco.
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 17 Feb. 2026
Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 11 May 2026
As one pipe blows up under their feet, two mercs go motionless and begin to drift away into the void.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Think about movements that happen when a person blows up a balloon.
—Matt Parrott, Arkansas Online, 26 Apr. 2026
Hunter consistently blows up running plays, ripping right through the interior of college offensive lines.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2026
For example, his steady job working in a bookstore blows up when it is set on fire and destroyed by those bullies ruling the neighborhood.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 23 Mar. 2026
Tommy plants the warehouse bomb that blows up the fake British currency.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026
The lead blows up, the other team’s fans laugh, roll closing credits.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 16 Mar. 2026
This, if possible, blows up in her face even more spectacularly than the brunch fiasco.
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 17 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for blows up
Verb
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And then, when the World Cup rolls around, the base explodes.—
Henry Bushnell,
New York Times,
4 June 2026
-
Video shows moment Blue Origin rocket explodes What is the New Glenn rocket?—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
Verb
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The two commit to a duel, each agreeing to fire their guns when a bottle of champagne rolls off the bar and shatters on the floor.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
1 June 2026
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This type of error creates friction and shatters trust.—
Jerry Haywood,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
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During one particularly fun moment shared by the LPGA Tour on Instagram, Clark cracks up at Cunningham's energetic approach to the sport — which ended in her accidentally hitting a fan with the ball.—
Natasha Dye,
PEOPLE,
13 Nov. 2025
Verb
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After the pass comes to Bridges, who detonates passersby at the basket regularly, White goes straight up, though with a little more oomph than usual.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Advertisement Christine Adams Courtesy of Apple TV Lang gets off the train and, once at a safe distance, detonates the explosive.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Then the climax subsides for a lovely coda of strings, accompanied by a denouement in which the now casually clad, contemporary-looking singer smashes up her play set in the apartment where she’s presumably been brooding over all this stuff.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
22 May 2026
-
Kyle Busch smashes a guitar in victory lane!—
Jeff Gluck,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
Verb
-
Rhode announces new summer collection Hailey Bieber's beauty brand Rhode announced its new summer collection to achieve a bronzy glow.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 June 2026
-
Bone loss is one of those health risks that sneaks up quietly and then announces itself with a fracture.—
Allison Palmer
Updated June 3,
Sacbee.com,
3 June 2026
Verb
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Security snarls The TSA PreCheck line at terminal B in LaGuardia Airport in East Elmhurst, Queens, New York City, on March 27, 2026.—
Leslie Josephs,
CNBC,
28 Mar. 2026
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Beyond the red tape that snarls any new apartment, condominiums confront an additional hurdle.—
M. Nolan Gray,
The Atlantic,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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What makes season 6 a top-tier installment is witnessing two power alliances (the Friendship and the Sovereign 6) going head-to-head and trading blows back-and-forth every single week.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 June 2026
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The fuel-saving engine start-stop system is also transparent, and the air conditioning blows ice cold, even when the gasoline engine is off.—
Michael Harley,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Blows up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/blows%20up. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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